SUDBURY -- CTV News has learned that the North Bay English public school board is one of nine across the province to be impacted by another one-day strike by teachers and education workers next week.

Local union officials with Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation say since the province-wide walkout on Dec. 4 was not enough to get the education minister back to the bargaining table, another strike is planned for select districts on Wednesday, Dec. 11 for select districts.

One of those is the Near North District School Board in North Bay.

"Even after it was confirmed that the government’s own public consultations reveal overwhelming opposition to Doug Ford’s education agenda, the government is still refusing to engage in serious discussions about mandatory e-learning, class size, staffing, or any other issue that affects the learning environments in our schools," said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof.

OSSTF District 4 President Glen Hodgson says the decision to hold another strike was made provincially, but the North Bay union members are prepared to continue to do what is needed to protect Ontario's publicly funded education system.

He says the decision to close the schools will be made by the board.

CTV News Northern Ontario has reached out to the Near North District School Board, but has not yet received a response.

Because OSSTF members are not just high school teachers and include support staff in elementary schools as well, many boards across the province closed both for the last strike.

"The board chose to actually close the elementary schools to students as well too, and I respect their right to make that decision, but I think that their rationale behind it was it is hard to run safe and effective programming in those elementary schools without our OSSTF support staff. And that goes to underline just the value of those people in those schools and the contributions that they make and the importance of their jobs," said Hodgson. "Sometimes in these events, the focus is always on teachers, of course teachers play a very key role as well, but sometimes the support staff get forgotten or aren't noted in these events. And they are very much a big part of what's happening and they're very much a big part of our schools and school system. So, their value and should never be underestimated."

The local union president says they continue to fight for class sizes and against forced e-learning.

Currently, the province wants to increase the average class size from 22 to 25, and is demanding students take two online courses.

The Ford government says another key issue is compensation, with an offer of a one per cent annual wage increase on the table. OSSTF is asking for around two per cent and says wages should keep up with the rate of inflation.

Hodgson says strike action is hard on his members as well as parents, but that OSSTF is firm in their resolve.

"We absolutely understand that our targeted job actions create a temporary disruption for the students and families affected. By contrast, the Doug Ford agenda, if it is allowed to be implemented, will create long-term disruption for students across the entire education system, and leave publicly-funded education in Ontario deeply and permanently damaged," said Bischof.

Other school boards being affected on Dec. 11 are:

  • Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
  • Grand Erie District School Board
  • Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
  • Near North District School Board
  • Rainy River District School Board
  • Simcoe County District School Board
  • Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
  • Toronto District School Board
  • Trillium Lakelands District School Board

CTV News Northern Ontario will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates.

What parents need to know about strike action in Ontario schools